Electric 5 ’s new version of The Rolling Stones’ “Paint It Black” doesn’t tiptoe around reverence—it tears into the song with sharpened bows and amplified strings, forcing you to hear a classic in a way you never imagined.

The Chicago-based quintet, made up of Adia, Kelsee Vandervall, Erica Carpenedo, Violetta Todorova, and Lillian Pettit, isn’t interested in gimmickry. With two cellos and three violins, they aim to hit with the impact of a full band, and on this track, they succeed. The cellos drive like heavy bass and percussion, laying down a foundation that rumbles beneath the violins, which slice and scream through the melody with blistering precision.

What makes the recording more thrilling is the group’s refusal to rely on backing tracks. Every sound is captured live, arranged by Dusan Sarapa and Adia, and produced without digital shortcuts. Recorded in Chicago and mixed by Grammy-winner James Auwarter in London, the track feels raw and physical—closer to a live set than a polished studio piece.

The all-female lineup adds another layer of urgency. In a genre long dominated by guitar bravado, Electric 5 reclaims space with skill and firepower. By the time the final bow stroke fades, “Paint It Black” feels less like a cover and more like a challenge—proof that strings, when wielded with this much conviction, can shake the ground just as hard as guitars.